3io BROADLAND SPORT 



legs, folded his hands, and gazed benignly at the glowing 

 embers. 



For an hour we discussed the prospects of sport, the wild- 

 ness of the neighbourhood, and the probabilities of the 

 weather. We dined well, in accordance with the customary 

 hospitality of a Norfolk host, and retired in good time to 

 rest. 



The morning broke fine, but cold. It was Sunday, and 

 we, drawing the curtains from the window, saw the grey old 

 church with its thatched roof and rounded tower in the im- 

 mediate foreground of the view. It was a pretty picture. 

 Giant ivy embraced the outer shell of the sacred edifice, 

 climbed some distance up the tower and along the roof. A 

 pheasant was searching for its breakfast in the grass, white 

 with hoar frost, which grew among the silent tombstones ; and 

 a nimble little squirrel busied himself collecting his winter 

 store from under the russet leaves beneath a fruitful oak. 

 Looking upw^ards we saw a small bunch of wildfowl winging 

 their way eastward, and the cooing of some pigeons told us 

 it was high time we likewise completed our toilet and sought 

 for breakfast. 



At ten a.m. the Sunday school class arrived. Half an 

 hour's discourse on the mighty deeds of valour enacted by 

 David sent them away interested and, it is to be hoped, 

 enlightened. At 10.45 our host bethought him of his 

 other duties. The church sexton, clerk, groom, gardener, 

 warren-keeper and general man-of -all-work was absent ; he 

 had gone to forage for bait. A difficulty arose as to who 

 should manipulate the heating apparatus of the church and 

 toll the solitary bell for service. We volunteer and are 

 accepted. 



Old maxims often predict truth, more especially so does 

 the one which runs, " Fools rush in where," etc., and before 

 we had been fifteen minutes in the church we repented the 

 rashness of having so suddenly volunteered assistance. 



The flue would not draw, the wood would not burn, and 

 when at last, with much persuasion, a small flame was 



